Tool for straightening sagging spring seats



April 12, 1949. B. D. MONTEITH 2,467,332

TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING SAGGING SPRING SEATS Filed Oct. 16, 1947 FIG. 2.

' .I 4 Bennett 1:. Mnnteflh BY AM -4% I ATTORNEYS.

4 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING SAGGING SPRINGSEATS Bennett 1). Monteith, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application October 16, 1947, Serial No. 780,181

This invention relates to a tool for straightening sagging spring seats,more particularly for straightening the lower spring seats for coilsprings in the front end suspensions of automobiles, wherein the springseat is mounted on short and long arms forming lower A-frame connectionsbetween the ends of the front axle and the front wheel stub axles.

In such coil spring supporting connections the lower spring seatsconnected with the A-frames frequently become bent down or sagging dueto wide A-frame construction, which results in the front end becominglower, in excess of the amount attributable to the natural springsettle, at either or both ends of the front axle. This not only lowersthe vehicle body frame or causes tilting of the body to one side or theother, if one of the coil spring seats is deformed so as to sag but italso throws out both the camber and caster for the front wheel, orwheels if both coil spring seats should sag. In cases of such sagging ofthe lower coil spring seats it has been necessary to remove the frontend assembly from the car and replace the seats and often the springs.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tool to savetime, labor and expense in repairing such lower coil spring seats,correcting them by pressing them back into place until the vehicle bodyis brought into proper position and both the camber and caster of thefront wheels is corrected by applying the tool so as to act directly onthe A-frame and coil spring seat without dismantling of any of thesuspension parts.

This tool, in accordance with my invention has many advantages,primarily that of permitting this type of repair to cars to be madequickly, efficiently, and cheaply, saving time, money and replacementparts. Without this tool it is impossible to straighten the saggingspring seats without removing the entire front end assembly. This toolpermits the straightening of the lower spring seat without the extratime and attendant expense that necessarily follows the removal of thefront end assembly.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the detaileddescription of a highly practical form of tool in accordance with myinvention as set forth in the following specification, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a jack support for use in straightening thelower coil spring seat in ac- 4 Claims. (01. 153-32) cordance with myinvention, par-ts being broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is'a perspective view of a plate for engaging the upper end ofthe jack and under surface of a front coil spring seat.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, parts in section and parts broken away, toillustrate the application of the tool for straightening the seat, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating the flexibilityof the tool for application to the right and left side A-framesrespectively for the ends of the front axle of the vehicle.

In general the tool for straightening sagging spring seats in accordancewith my invention comprises, as shown in Fig. 5, a saddle base ID withtwo pairs of supporting hook arms H for supporting a jack I2 below longand short arms i3 and M respectively, of an A-frame on the front axle 15of an automobile. A round thick plate I6 is also provided to fit theindentations I! for the lower end of a coil spring l8, made in the seatplate 19 which is connected to arms [3 and I4 and constitutes therewiththe A-frame assembly. This round plate It rests on the top of the upperend of jack I2 when the tool is set up for straightening a sagged springseat of the front end assembly of a car or the like.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the jack saddle base In comprises aheavy flat iron or similar material plate of trapezoidal formation withelongated strap boxes 20 along under the parallel sides of the base sothat the pairs of hook arms I I can float in the jack saddle base plateand may be readily adjusted and hooked to the car A-frame and the saddlebase 10 will be firmly centered on the A-frame arms. At least one stopmember is provided, two in the form of ribs 2| are shown secured to theunder side of saddle base 10 and strap boxes 20 for limiting inwardmovement of the pairs of hook arms H but allowing inward or outward orangular adjustment of the hook arms in the spaces thus provided asrequired in mounting the tool on right and left side A-frames asillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

While other forms of suitable supporting elements such as flexiblechains or lengthwise adjustable members may be provided, preferably thetwo pairs of hook arms II are employed for supporting saddle base Ill.The hook arms H are preferably made of good cold rolled steel eachformed with an intermediate horizontal portion 22 with upwardlyextending arms 23 at its ends bent at different angles with respect toeach other as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the four upwardly extendingarms 23 having inwardly bent hooks 24 at their upper ends so that thehooks can be easily fastened on the A-frame arms l3 and I4 whichincrease in width from outside inwardly of the car. It will be seen thatthese arms are preferably formed to operate as pairs, the arms of eachpair being integral elements with the intermediate portion 22 so as toswing or otherwise move as a unit.

Jack l2 as indicated is of a conventional type preferably a fluidpressure type in whichv the pressure may be applied in any desiredmanner although a hand pump 25 is illustrated for the purpose.

In operation the tool is assembled by placing the front endstraightening jack l2 on the jack saddle base I!) and attaching thehooks 2 4, of the jack saddle arms I I over the arms l3 and I4 of theA-frame on the car. The round coil seat plate I6 is positioned againstthe lower spring seat plate l8 of the A-frame assembly. The jack I2 israised by pressure until it firmly holds the coil seat plate l6. Asadditional pressure is applied to the jack 12 the force is spread evenlyover the A-frame spring seat, straightening the seat to its originalshape without distortion, of bending or cracking.

I claim:

1. A tool for straightening sagging seats of A-frame assemblies forautomobile front ends and the like comprising, a saddle plate supportfor a jack, and two pairs of swinging elements pivotally mounted on saidplate, each made up of a pair of rigidly connected arms for suspendingthe saddle plate below the A-frame so that the jack thereon will engagethe spring seat, the arms of said elements being provided at their outerends with means movable into engagement with the A-frame by movement ofthe arms to suspend the saddle plate as aforesaid.

2. A tool for straightening sagging spring seats of A-frame assembliesfor automobile front ends and the like comprising, a lack support saddleplate of trapezoidal conformation, a strap box on the under side of eachof the parallel sides of said saddle plate, two pairs of swingingelements each made up of a pair of rigidly connected arms pivotallymounted in said strap boxes on the saddle plate and extending upwardlytherefrom, and hooks on the upper ends of said arms for engaging theA-frame members of an automobile adjacent to their outer ends forsuspending the saddle plate below the A-frame in a position so that ajack thereon will engage the spring seat.

3. A tool for straightening sagging spring seats of A-frame assembliesfor automobile front ends and the like comprising, a jack support saddleplate of trapezoidal con-formation, a strap box on the under side ofeach of the parallel sides of said saddle plate, intermediate stops onthe underside of said saddle plate separating the strap boxes each intotwo outer sections, two pairs of swinging elements each made up of apair of rigidly connected arms pivotally mounted in the two outersections of said strap boxes on the saddle plate and extending upwardlytherefrom, and hooks on the upper ends of said arms for engaging theA-frame members of an automobile adjacent to their outer ends forsuspending the saddle plate below the A-frame in a position so that a.jack thereon will engage the spring seat.

4. A tool for straightening sagging spring seats of A-frame assembliesfor automobile front ends and the like comprising, a jack support saddleplate of trapezoidal conformation, a strap box on the under side of eachof the parallel sides of said saddle plate, two pairs of swingingelements each made up of a pair of rigidly connected arms pivotallymounted in said strap boxes on the saddle plate and extending upwardlytherefrom, at different angles with respect to each other, and hooks onthe upper ends of said arms for engaging the A-frame members of anautomobile adjacent to their outer ends for suspending the saddle platebelow either the right or left side A-frame in a position so that a jackthereon will engage the spring seat.

BENNETT D. MONTEITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 884,429 Taylor Apr. 14, 19081,531,653 Harmon Mar. 31, 1925 1,720,183 Parmer July 9, 1929 1,777,686Bagge Oct. 7, 1930

